Thread treating apparatus



March 7, 1950 H. K. MARTIN THREAD TREATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 50, 1944 March 7, 1950 MARTlN 2,499,405

THREAD TREATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 30, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 O Mam 1%IN VEN TOR.

Patented Mar. 7, 1950 THREAD TREATING APPARATUS Harold K. Martin,Elizabethton, Tenn., assignor to North American Rayon Corporation, NewYork, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 30,1944,Serial No. 570,633 3 Claims. (Cl. 28-715) This invention relates toimprovements in thread treating apparatus and more particularly to atreating unit upon which freshly formed synthetic thread is continuouslyafter-treated and dried ready for spooling, twisting or packaging in anydesired form.

Thread treating equipment of the general type above referred to hastaken several difierent forms, such, for instance, as the threadadvancing reel disclosed in United States Patent No. 34,494 issuedFebruary 25, 1862, to Heilmann, the thread advancing reel disclosed inUnited States Patents Nos. 1,052 212 and 1,052,125, issued February 4,1913, to Boos, and the thread treating apparatus disclosed in UnitedStates Patent No. 1,983,221, issued December 4, 1934, to Furness.Another type of thread advancing device involving askew rollersisdisclosed in United States Patents Nos. 1249,677, issued December 11,1917, to Seeley; 1,820,621, issued August 25, 1931, and 1,849,983,issued March 15, 1932, to Junkers, and the apparatus disclosed in UnitedStates Patent No. 2,002,995, issued May 28, 1935, to Hartmann et al.

The present invention is particularly directed to the latter type ofthread advancing device in which two rollers mounted in inclined oraskew relationship constitute the thread advancing unit and has for itsobject to improve the operation of such thread advancing devices whenthe complete processing of the thread is to be accomplished on a singleunit as illustrated in Furness Patent No. 1,983,221 above referred to.

For short thread advancing units, such as are disclosed in the Junkerspatents above mentioned r or in Knebusch Patent 2 225,641, issuedDecember 24, 1940, the necessity of supporting the components of thethread advancing device at both ends is of little importance, but when aplurality of thread treating processes is to be accomplished on a singleunit involving a plurality of separate treating zones, as, for instance,in the process disclosed by Furness, it becomes evident that thecantilever support of such long rollers upon their shafts places such ashear on the shafts and their bearings that accuracy of rotation of therollers is difficult of accomplishment.

The primary object of this invention is to assure accurate rotation ofthe cantilever supported thread advancing rollers of a thread treatingdevice irrespective of the number of thread treating zones embodied inthe unit.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this inventionwhich embodies among its features a horizontally disposed supporting armrigidly supported from one end and carrying at its opposite endvertically spaced bearin s in which are mounted shafts that aid insupporting rollers divided into treating zones through which thread maybe advanced from its freshly coagulated state to completion, includingdrying.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a thread treating unit embodying thisinvention, and

Fig. 2 is a side view of a spinning machine showing a plurality of suchunits mounted in operative position thereon.

Referring to the drawings, a spinning machine designated generally by I0comprises a frame composed of standards I I carrying in spaced parallelrelation horizontally disposed rails I2 and a spinning trough I 3.Supported above the uppermost rail l2 on the side of the standardsopposite that to which the rails are attached is a plurality ofhorizontally extending liquid supply pipes It for the conduction anddistribution of the various treating liquids to which the thread is tobe subjected. A main drive shaft l5 carried in suitable brackets (notshown) supported on the standards, extends horizontally to the rear ofand between the rails I2 and carries at spaced intervals bevel pinionsI6. Supported below the lowermost rail I2 to the rear of the standardsare horizontally disposed liquid receiving pipes I6 into which the usedtreating liquids are discharged. A spinnerette I1 carried by the usualgoose neck I8 attached to a spinning pump I9 which is supplied withspinning solution in the usual manner, is disposed in the trough l3through which the spinning solution is extruded into the spin bathcontained within the trough I3 to form a thread 20. The thread may ofcourse be stretched by means of godets, etc. and passed through one ormore baths, such as hot water, etc., before being led to a threadadvancing device hereinafter discussed more in detail. A gas supply main2I runsholizontally of the machine and is provided at spaced intervalswith branch pipes 22 for the distribution of fuel to gas burners to bemore fully hereinafter described. Instead of heating the drying zonewith gas it may be heated by electrical meanssteam, hot water, etc.

Removably secured as by bolts 23 at spaced intervals to the rails I2 arethread treating units designated generally by 24. Each unit 24 comprisesa bed plate 25 having rigidly attached thereto and extendinghorizontally therefrom a supporting arm designated generally by 26. Eachsuch arm comprises a pair of trussed bars 21 of identical constructioneach 7 one end an attaching flange -28 and-at its opposite end asemi-circular member which coopmating bar in forming a socket 29 forreceiving an internally screw-threaded sleeve 30. As illusvtrated,.theattaching flangesv 28 areattached as a by bolts 3 l to the bed plate andwhen the parts are thus assembled a rigid hollow box-like supporting arm26 results. Otherwise described, and

'. as shown in the drawing, the arm 26 may be re; 1 garded as a two-partbifurcated structure with ;'.the arms or members thereof joined. inconverg-.

of which carriesat ply the proper treating liquid to the proper chamber,a f; In operationthe rollers are set in motion and erates, with thesemi-circular member on the.

the thread llh formed by the introduction of a spinning solution throughthe spinnerette l1 into the bathin the spinningtrough i3, is preferablyI led upwardly. and'over the uppermost roller near its outer end, i. e.,the end farthest'from the bed plate. of course the thread can also beled 'downwardly to the thread advancing device or I sideways thereto.The thread is given a few ing fashion at-the front or. free end whichcarries the socket '30, 'Entering the socket 30 from opposite ends arescrew threaded rods 3| carrying at their opposite endshousings 32preferably errclosing ball "hearings in "which shafts 33 are;

mounted. The opposite ends of these shafts pass through openings formedin the-bed plate 25 in which are mounted ball bearings similar to thosecarried by the housings 31'.v Each shaft 33 carries adjacent the endwhich projectsthrough the about both rollers, and upon being dischargedfrom the rollers isfcollected as waste until the loops have workedbackwardto the *position'shown in Fig. 1.5The distance between the loopsmay be regulated by turning the threaded rods 3| in the sleeve 30 so asto move the outer ends of the shafts 33 toward or away from each otherand thus change the angularity bed plate a drive sprocket 34 and anendless chain 35 runs over these sprockets so that .bothshafts willrotate in unison. Secured to the 'end' of the lowermost shaft 33adjacent its sprocket 34 is a bevel pinion 34' which meshes with oneof-the bevel pinions IS on the drive shaft IS. The rollers may of coursebe driven in unison by other equivalent mechanical means not shown.

Mounted for rotation with each shaft is a roller. each of whichcomprises a plurality of cylindrical sections 36 preferably separatedendwise from each other by liquid separator elements such as are shownand described in the copending application of Herbert O. Naumann filedJuly 14, 1942, Serial Number 450,934, now United States Patent No.2,416,533, entitled Process and apparatus for the manufacture ofsynthetic yarns. Bridges span the spaces between the cylindricalsections 36 and where necessary the cylindrical sections may be providedin their peripheries with liquid distributing grooves such as thosedisclosed in the Naumann application above identified.

Secured to the bed plate 25 below the lowermost roller is a pair ofspaced parallel outwardly extending brackets 38 for the support of aliquid collecting tray 38 which is divided by partitions 40 into aplurality of separate liquid collecting basins to each of which a drainpipe H is connected. These drain pipes are in turn connected by unions42 to drain pipes 43 carried by the bed plate which in turn areconnected by unions 44 to branch pipes 45 leading to the liquidreceiving pipes I6 above mentioned. Mounted on the upper edges of thearms 21 is a liquid collecting tray 46 which is identical inconstruction to the tray 39. The liquid collecting basins of the tray 46are connected by drain pipes 41 to branch pipes 48 which in turn areconnected to the drain pipes 43 as shown in Fig. 1. Thus it will be seenthat the liquids collected in the basins will be directed to theirrespective liquid receiving pipes for discharge or recirculation andre-use.

Pivoted at 49 to a bracket 50 mounted on the bed plate 25 near the uppermost roller is a liquid distributor 5| which is divided into separatechambers each of which is provided with liquid outlet jets 52 arrangedto distribute liquid over the respective cylindrical sections 36 of theupper roller. The chambers are connected by flexible pipes 53 withoutlets in the horizontally extending liquid supply pipes 14, it beingunderstood that the connections are made so as to supor axialinclination of the rollers upon which I the thread is being advancedsuitably pivoted bearings not shown, being of course used at the "bedplate end to permit of such inclination. Upon completion of thisoperation treating liquids are admitted to pipes 14 and distributed overtheir respective cylindrical sections 36 preferably in theform of, thincontinuous films. The thread advancing in-the form of a horizontallytravelling helix isbathed'by the liquid films and finally passes to apoint near the outer end of the de- -vice where it encounters acylindrical drying surface of the endmost section 36 which is heated anysuitable manner as by a gas burner 54 connected by pipe-55 with the gasmain 2|. As

can be seen from both figures of the drawing, the thread 20 passes overthe rollers but does not rub-or contact with the rigid roller-supportingarm' 26 or any portion thereof, the width of the latter-being less thanthe diameter of either roller. 'Leaving the heated end of the endmostsection 35 the thread is led in dried condition to a suitable-collectingdevice such as a ring twister 56 where it is collected'in package formready for distribution and use in textile operations. As can be seenfrom Fig. 1, the rollersupporting bearings at the free or outermost endas well as the means used for adjusting the inclination of the rollersand designated by numerals 29, 30, 3|, 32, do not extend beyond theconfines of the thread-bearing periphery of the unit, i. e. in theembodiment illustrated, the top of the upper roller and the bottom ofthe lower roller, nor do they extend out laterally to cause obstruction.The benefits accruing from the cantilever mounting of the unit aretherefore retained and no obstruction is interposed to manipulationsthat may be carried on at the free, outermost, unsupported end of theunit, which is thus left unencumbered.

The process herein disclosed is primarily that adapted to be used in themanufacture of rayon from viscose, but it is to be understood that thisapparatus is also suitable, with minor modifications, for use in theproduction of rayon thread from other spinning solutions, such ascupram- -monium cellulose, casein, cellulose esters, cellulose ethers,etc. Stretching of the thread where desired during processing may beattained by making one or more of the roller sections 36 in tapered formand likewise compensation for shrinkage of the thread during processingmay be accomplished by using a reverse taper on one or more of theroller sections 36. It is to be noted that each thread advancing andtreating device is a unit in itself and as many units may be and for thering twister 56 herein disclosed there may be substituted a cap twister,a centrifugal pot, a skein collector or a spooling device, depending onthe textile operations to follow. Thus the thread may be collected intwisted, untwisted,

wet or dry form. The apparatus is subject to many modifications, itbeing understood that the fundamental invention resides in adjustablysupporting a pair of askew rollers on a rigid arm so that the shaftsupon which the rollers are mounted will be relieved of shear and therollers can be made to run true and accurately without wobble oreccentricity. Modifications and variations of this invention willreadily be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is desired toinclude all modifications and variations coming within the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A thread treating unit comprising a bed plate, a pair of threadadvancing rollers defining a thread-bearing periphery, a rigidrollersupporting arm fixed to and extending perpendicularly andsubstantially horizontally from said bed plate said rollers extendingsubstantially parallel to said rigid arm but being adapted to beinclined axially and being supported by said rigid arm and said bedplate said arm being disposed intermediate said rollers, means carriedby said rigid arm for inclining said rollers, the width of said armbeing less than the diameter of either roller and the means on said armfor supporting the rollers and for inclining said rollers not extendingbeyond the confines of said thread-bearing periphery whereby to relievethe roller mounts from shear, prevent contact of thread with said arm,and avoid obstructing the unattached ends of said rollers.

2. A thread treating unit comprising a bed plate, a pair ofthread-advancing rollers defining a thread-bearing periphery, a rigidrollersupporting arm fixed to and extending perpendicularly andsubstantially horizontally from said bed plate, said rollers extendingsubstantially parallel to said rigid arm but being adapted to beinclined axially and being supported by said rigid arm and said bedplate, said arm being disposed intermediate said rollers and comprisingessentially a plurality of members joined together at the free end ofsaid arm, means carried by the joined together portion of the members ofsaid arm for supporting said rollers, means carried by said joinedtogether portion for adjusting the inclination of said rollers, thewidth of said arm being less than the diameter of either roller and themeans carried by said arm for supporting the rollers and for incliningsaid rollers not extending beyond the confines of the aforesaidthreadbearing periphery, whereby to relieve the roller mounts fromshear, prevent contact of thread with said arm and avoid obstructing theunattached ends of said' rollers.

3. 'A thread treating unit comprising a bed plate, a pair ofthread-advancing rollers defining a thread-bearing periphery, a rigidrollersupporting arm fixed to and extending perpendicularly andsubstantially horizontally from said bed plate, said rollers extendingsubstantially parallel to said rigid arm but being adapted to beinclined axially and being supported by said rigid arm and said bedplate, said arm being disposed intermediate said rollers and comprisingessentially a bifurcated structure including a plurality of trussedmembers convergingly joined at a point beyond the unsupported ends ofsaid rollers, means carried at the joined end of said bifurcatedstructure for supporting said rollers, means carried at said joined endfor adjusting the inclination of said rollers, the width of saidbifurcated structure being less thanthe diameter of either roller andthe means carried at the joined end of said structure for supporting andfor adjusting the inclination of said rollers not extending.

beyond the confines of the aforesaid threadbearing periphery whereby torelieve the roller mounts from shear, prevent contact of thread withsaid bifurcated structure and avoid obstructing the unattached ends ofsaid rollers.

HAROLD K. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

